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  Ink cartridgeUSPTO Application #: 20070070137Title: Ink cartridge Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a cartridge case enclosing an ink chamber; and a path extending from the ink chamber to an exterior of the ink cartridge. The path varies in diameter at different locations along the path; a first diameter of the path in one or more narrow sections is smaller than diameters in all other sections of the path; and the path has a polygonal cross sectional shape in at least one of the narrow sections. (end of abstract) Agent: Oliff & Berridge, PLC - Alexandria, VA, US Inventors: Shingo Hattori, Toyonori Sasaki, Tomohiro Kanbe USPTO Applicaton #: 20070070137 - Class: 347086000 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070070137. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority benefit of Japanese Applications Nos. 2005-284652, filed on Sep. 29, 2005, and 2005-342686, filed Nov. 28, 2005, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND [0002] An ink cartridge stores ink to be supplied to an inkjet recording device (inkjet printer). The ink cartridge is provided with an ink storage chamber that stores ink and an ink supply port that supplies ink from the ink storage chamber to the inkjet printer. The ink supply port may also function as an insertion port for an ink extraction tube. When the ink cartridge is not mounted to the inkjet printer, the ink supply port is closed by a valve so that ink will not leak from the ink cartridge. [0003] Mounting the ink cartridge to the inkjet printer is performed by pressing the ink cartridge toward the inkjet printer. In the inkjet printer, a hollow ink extraction tube is protrudingly arranged. When the ink cartridge is mounted to the inkjet printer, the ink extraction tube engages the valve that closes the ink supply port of the ink cartridge, and the ink supply port is opened. By opening the ink supply port, the ink storage chamber and the ink extraction tube are permitted to communicate with each other, and ink is supplied to the inkjet printer via the ink extraction tube. [0004] JP-A-2005-22198 discloses an ink cartridge including an ink supply port having a valve that is urged into a closed position by a coil spring. The ink supply port is opened when the ink cartridge is mounted to an inkjet printer and an ink extraction tube opens the valve by acting against an urging force of the coil spring. When the valve is opened by the ink extraction needle, the ink supply port can supply ink through the ink extraction needle to the inkjet printer. [0005] JP-A-2005-103866 discloses an ink cartridge including a valve element that does not employ a coil spring. The valve element is constructed so as to be slightly deformed by insertion of an ink extraction tube. The slight deformation opens an ink supply port and permits the supply of ink. [0006] However, in the ink cartridges disclosed in JP-A-2005-22198 and JP-A-2005-103866, the respective ink flow paths have round cross sectional shapes. Thus, if air is present in the respective ink flow paths, the ink flow paths can be easily blocked by that air. Air is generally present in spherical bubbles within an ink flow path, so if the cross sectional shape of the ink flow path is round, the ink flow path can be easily closed by the bubbles. In particular, the smaller the ink flow path diameter in a valve body of an ink cartridge, the easier it is for ink flow path blockage to be caused by air. Obstructions to an ink flow path lead to problems with the supply of ink to an inkjet printer. SUMMARY [0007] Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention address the above-mentioned problems with existing ink cartridges. An object of various exemplary embodiments of this invention is to provide an ink cartridge that can provide a stable supply of ink to a recording head of an inkjet printer by preventing obstructions in an ink flow path. [0008] In various exemplary embodiments, an ink cartridge includes: a cartridge case enclosing an ink chamber; and a path extending from the ink chamber to an exterior of the ink cartridge. In various exemplary embodiments, the path varies in diameter at different locations along the path; a first diameter of the path in one or more narrow sections is smaller than diameters in all other sections of the path; and the path has a polygonal cross sectional shape in at least one of the narrow sections. [0009] These and other optional features and possible advantages of various aspects of this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] Various exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the following figures, wherein: [0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention; [0012] FIG. 2(a) is a front view of a case of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention; [0013] FIG. 2(b) is a front view of a frame of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention; [0014] FIG. 2(c) is a front view of a cap of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention; [0015] FIG. 3(a) is a front/rear view of a case of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention; [0016] FIG. 3(b) is a left side/right side view of a case of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention; [0017] FIG. 3(c) is a top view of a case of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention; [0018] FIG. 3(d) is a bottom view of a case of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention; [0019] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the case shown in FIG. 3(d); [0020] FIG. 5(a) is a front/rear view of a cap of an exemplary ink cartridge according to the present invention; Continue reading... Full patent description for Ink cartridge Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Ink cartridge patent application. Patent Applications in related categories: 20080106582 - Liquid tank - A liquid tank includes a liquid chamber for holding liquid and an absorption chamber containing an absorber for absorbing and holding the liquid. The liquid chamber and the absorption chamber are separated by a partition. The partition has a communication part allowing communication between the liquid chamber and the absorption ... 20080106581 - Water-based ink, ink jet recording method, ink cartridge, recording unit, ink jet recording apparatus, and image forming method - A water-based ink of the present invention comprises water, a plurality of different water-soluble organic solvents, and a water-insoluble coloring material, wherein the above water-soluble organic solvents consist of a good solvent to the above water-insoluble coloring material and a poor solvent to the above water-insoluble coloring material, and the ... ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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